Empire Road (1978) : distribution, intrigue et streaming

Released in 1978, Empire Road is a drame series.

What it’s about. Empire Road was a British television series, made by the BBC in 1978 and 1979. Written by Michael Abbensetts, the show ran for two seasons of eight episodes each. The series was the first British television series to be written, acted and directed predominantly by black artists. A soap opera, similar in format to Coronation Street, Empire Road depicted life for the African-Caribbean, East Indian and South Asian residents of a racially diverse street in the city of Birmingham. Prominent cast members included Norman Beaton, Corinne Skinner-Carter, Wayne Laryea, Joseph Marcell and Rudolph Walker. The programme also provided early TV exposure for Julie Walters who appeared in a few episodes. The series was made at BBC Pebble Mill with location work in the Handsworth area of Birmingham. The eponymously named theme song was recorded by Matumbi and also released as a single in 1978.

Who’s in it. Empire Road stars Meg Johnson, Rudolph Walker, Joseph Marcell and Norman Beaton, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.5/10, Empire Road has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Empire Road page.

If you liked it. Fans of Empire Road tend to enjoy Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Demon Slayer : Kimetsu no Yaiba and L'Attaque des Titans.